Hardy had averaged about 26 home runs per season from 2011-13 before managing just nine home runs in '14. He went a career-long 339 at-bats without a homer at one point last season before snapping the slump June 21 against the Yankees.

"It happened so early last year that it was a constant battle to get my core strong enough to where I didn't feel it," Hardy said. "Maybe two months of the year I actually felt normal. The rest of the time was a grind. But I've been able to strengthen my core pretty good this offseason with my workouts."

Orioles announce three-year extension for J.J. Hardy

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10/9/2014)The Orioles announced the contract extension of shortstop J.J. Hardy via Twitter on Thursday. Hardy agreed to a three-year extension with an option for 2018. Hardy has been with the Orioles since 2011, winning a pair of Gold Gloves. He hit .268 with a .372 slugging percentage, .682 OPS, nine home runs, 28 doubles and 52 RBI in 141 games this season for Baltimore.

Contract extension for Orioles SS J.J. Hardy worth around $40 million

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10/9/2014)Shortstop J.J. Hardy has agreed to a contract extension with the Orioles for around $40 million for three years, a source told CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. Hardy was headed for free agency in the offseason.

Hardy hit .268 with a .372 slugging percentage, .682 OPS, nine home runs, 28 doubles and 52 RBI in 141 games this season for Baltimore. It was the first time in four seasons he had less than 20 home runs and the second time in his career he struck out (104) more than 100 times.

Hardy is a career .261 hitter with a .422 slugging percentage, .734 OPS, 167 home runs and 579 RBI in 1,259 regular season games. He is a two-time All-Star and won AL Gold Gloves in 2012 and 2013.

Report: J.J. Hardy close to contract extension with Orioles

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10/9/2014)The Orioles are close to an agreement on a contract extension with shortstop J.J. Hardy, sources told FOX Sports. The deal is believed to be three years with an option for a fourth year, and the value of the deal would exceed $40 million.

J.J. Hardy ready to roll Friday for Orioles

by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(9/12/2014)On the same day the Orioles lost first baseman Chris Davis to suspension, they welcomed shortstop J.J. Hardy back from a back injury. He is set to start in Game 1 of their Friday doubleheader against the Yankees.

Hardy had been out for a week. He returns with just nine home runs after slugging at least 22 in each of the last three years. But he does own a respectable .281/.320/.392 stat line.

J.J. Hardy's MRI comes back clean; aiming for Friday

Hardy's MRI showed no damage, but he did receive a cortisone injection in his lower back. Showalter expects Hardy to possibly be available beginning Friday against the Yankees. He has not played since last Friday.

J.J. Hardy leaves to have back examined

by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer

(9/8/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy, who was out of the lineup for a third straight game Monday because of back spasms, will leave the team to have his back examined Tuesday in Baltimore, according to MLB.com. He's expected to miss the team's three-game series in Boston.

J.J. Hardy not in lineup after all

by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer

(9/8/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was out of the lineup for a third straight game because of back spasms Monday at Boston. Hardy had said he planned to return Monday. Ryan Flaherty once again got the start in his absence.

Hardy also missed Tuesday's game with back spasms. Despite the ongoing issue, he's batting .296 (8 for 27) with a homer in his last eight games.

J.J. Hardy sitting due to back issues

by Al Melchior | Data Analyst

(9/7/2014)J.J. Hardy was out of the Orioles' starting lineup for Sunday's game at the Rays. He continues to deal with back spasms, which led him to miss last Tuesday's series opener against the Reds. Hardy told MASNsports.com he expects he will be ready to return to action on Monday at the Red Sox.

Ryan Flaherty got the start at shortstop on Sunday in place of Hardy.

J.J. Hardy ready to roll again for Orioles

by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(9/3/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy has returned to action for the Wednesday night game against visiting Cincinnati. He left the Monday game with back spasms.

Hardy returns with a stat line of .280/.317/.393.

J.J. Hardy expected to return Wednesday

Hardy was sidelined Tuesday due to back spasms. The injury is not considered serious, and manager Buck Showalter believes Hardy will return to action Wednesday. Hardy is hitting .280/.317/.393 over 471 at-bats.

J.J. Hardy sidelined by back injury Tuesday

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(9/2/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds, after leaving Monday's game with a back injury. He is day to day at this point.

J.J. Hardy exits game with back spasms

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(9/1/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardywas forced out of Monday's game against the Twins with lower back spasms, the team announced. Hardy left the game after the seventh inning and was replaced by Ryan Flaherty. Hardy missed five games in April with a back injury. He is hitting .280 with nine homers and 50 RBI over 471 at-bats.

J.J. Hardy slugs eighth home run Monday

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(8/26/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy went 1 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 9-1 win over the Rays Sunday.

Hardy was one of five Orioles to hit home runs in the blowout win. After entering August with just four home runs to his credit, the shortstop has swatted four more home runs this month. He has hit .282/.316/.394 with eight home runs and 44 RBI in 447 at-bats.

J.J. Hardy: Left thumb injury still affecting me

(8/20/2014)Despite a mini-tear at the plate, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is still affected by a left thumb injury that had him out for a week earlier in the month, per the Baltimore Sun.

"Maybe I'm not trying to do too much because I can't," he said. "That's my only explanation, but [the thumb injury] is definitely not in the past. ... Swings and misses don't feel good. I've just got to limit that."

Hardy is 7 for 20 with a home run since his return. He has fanned just twice during that stretch.

J.J. Hardy hits seventh home run Monday

by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(8/19/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy hit his seventh home run Monday against the White Sox.

Hardy struck in the second inning. Hardy led off the inning by taking a 94 mph fastball out to left for a solo shot. He singled later in the game. Hardy finished 2 for 5, with two runs scored and one RBI.

J.J. Hardy returns following three-game absence

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(8/15/2014)After missing three games with a thumb injury, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is back in the team's lineup for Friday's game against the Indians.

Hardy has not played since suffering the injury last Saturday, but missed just three games thanks to an off-day Thursday and a rain-out Tuesday. He is batting sixth and starting at shortstop for the start of the series.

MRI confirms sprained thumb for J.J. Hardy

Hardy is feeling a little better, and he's set to rest Wednesday and Thursday before potentially returning to the lineup over the weekend. His offensive performance was trending upward before the injury, and the shortstop now owns a .283/.315/.388 line with six home runs and 40 RBI in 410 at-bats.

J.J. Hardy undergoes MRI on thumb, results not yet known

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(8/12/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy got another day off when Tuesday's game against the Yankees was rained out, but it is not yet clear when he will return to the lineup.

Hardy homered twice Friday against the Cardinals and is having a strong showing in August. He is batting .406 (13 for 32) with two home runs, three doubles and eight RBI in nine games this month.

J.J. Hardy continues coming on strong with big game Friday

by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(8/9/2014)The production the Orioles have been waiting for from shortstop J.J. Hardy is starting to come. He turned it up a notch Friday with a two-homer game in a dismantling of St. Louis.

Hardy hit a solo job in the third inning and a three-run blast in the fourth to give him six on the year. He has nine hits, six RBI and six runs scored in his last five games. He still has just six home runs and 39 RBI on the season, numbers that are distant from what he has typically achieved throughout his career.

J.J. Hardy cranks out four hits in win over Nationals

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(8/4/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy cranked out four hits in his team's 7-3 win over the Nationals on Monday.

Hardy reached on infield single in the second inning, singled in the fourth, doubled in the seventh and singled in the eighth. He finished 4 for 4 with two runs scored. He owns a .279/.311/.368 slash line with four homers and 33 RBI in 103 at-bats this season.

J.J. Hardy on nice four-game run

by Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com

(7/21/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is 5 for 11 with a homer, two doubles, two RBI and four runs scored over his past four games, notes MASNSports.com. His .285 batting average leads AL shortstops with at least 200 at-bats.

Hardy is excelling against right-handed pitching, with a .298 average, three homers and 24 RBI in 245 at-bats. He'll face two right-handers in the three-game series starting Monday against the Angels.

J.J. Hardy smacks third home run Monday

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(7/7/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy went 1 for 5 with a solo home run in his team's 8-2 win over the Red Sox Monday.

Hardy hit the second of back-to-back homers during a six-run 11th inning to help key a blowout victory in extra innings. Hardy has home runs in two of his last eight games after hitting just one blast through June 29. He owns a .288/.315/.372 line with three home runs and 26 RBI in 312 at-bats.

J.J. Hardy knocks second home run Monday

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(6/30/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy went 2 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run in his team's 7-1 win over the Rangers Monday.

Hardy hasn't provided much power this season, with his first home not coming until June 21, but he has been able to collect hits in bunches since the middle of May. He has hit .294/.321/.376 with two home runs and 20 RBI in 282 at-bats.

The wait is over - J.J. Hardy finally hits home run

by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(6/21/2014)It took 247 at-bats, but Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy finally hit his first home run of 2014 on Saturday.

The man who blasted 77 of them in the last three years combined knocked one over the fence in the eighth inning of a defeat of the Yankees. He added a single in the game.

Aside from his lack of power, Hardy has performed well at the plate this season. He boasts a decent stat line of .291/.319/.368.

J.J. Hardy searching for first homer

by Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com

(6/2/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is hitting .306 overall and .393 with runners in scoring position. But while he's been productive, he's still looking for his first homer after averaging 25 over the previous three seasons.

"I've got no explanation,” Hardy told the Baltimore Sun. "Yeah, obviously, it crosses my mind, but I try not to think about it as much as I can."

Hardy, who missed eight games in April with lower back spasms, said he doesn't think that setback has affected his power. "Ever since the first week of the season when I hurt my back, I've been on a pretty strict back exercise,” Hardy said. “But I feel pretty good physically."

Orioles not pursuing extensions with three key players

by Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com

(5/4/2014)The Orioles are not currently pursuing contract extensions with three of their highest-paid players: catcher Matt Wieters, shortstop J.J. Hardy or first baseman Chris Davis, reports ESPN analyst Jim Bowden. They have tried previously, without finding common ground, the report added.

J.J. Hardy back in Baltimore lineup Wednesday

by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(4/23/2014)Orioles power-hitting shortstop J.J. Hardy has returned to the lineup for the Wednesday night game against Toronto after missing two games with a hamstring tweak.

Hardy has been inconsistent this season. He has four multi-hit games and five in which he has been hitless. It all adds up to a 256/.267/.302 stat line. More troubling is that he has yet to homer in 43 at-bats.

J.J. Hardy could be back in lineup Wednesday

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4/22/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy did not return to the lineup Tuesday against the Blue Jays, missing a second straight start due to a hamstring injury.

J.J. Hardy absent from Monday's lineup

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4/21/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy did not make it into the starting lineup Monday at Boston after leaving Sunday's game with a strained right hamstring. Ryan Flaherty started in his absence Monday.

Hardy is batting .316 (6 for 19) with two doubles and four RBI in his last five games.

J.J. Hardy exits game with hamstring strain

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4/20/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was removed from Sunday's contest against the Red Sox in Boston with a strained right hamstring.

Hardy left the game in the top of the seventh inning due to the injury and was replaced by Stephen Lombardozzi. He hit a sacrifice fly in the opening frame and finished 1 for 2 with an RBI before the injury. He is hitting .256 with four RBI i 43 at-bats. His status remains uncertain for Monday's series finale against Boston.

J.J. Hardy back in starting lineup Saturday

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4/12/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is batting sixth in the team's starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.

Hardy has been out since last Saturday while dealing with a back issue, but an MRI on the injured area came back clean Friday. He's 5 for 15 with no extra-base hits.

J.J. Hardy set to return Saturday

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4/11/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday against Toronto, MLB.com on Friday. Hardy underwent an MRI on his injured back, which came back clean.

"The MRI turned out pretty good, so they injected it," manager Buck Showalter said. "Usually there's a 24-hour period to let the medication do its work. Just thought it'd be prudent after talking to [orthopedic surgeon] Dr. [Michael] Jacobs and everybody to get the full effect. He is available to play tonight, and I would use him if I have to."

J.J.Hardy, David Lough still out for Orioles

by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(4/11/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (back) will miss his sixth straight game and left fielder David Lough also remains sidelined Friday night against Toronto.

Lingering back issue keeps J.J. Hardy out again

by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(4/9/2014)A back injury has sidelined Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy Wednesday for the third straight game. He had been hoping to play the American League East clash against the Yankees, but he should return soon.

J.J. Hardy 'very close' to returning

Manager Buck Showalter said Hardy could be available off the bench Tuesday if needed. It sounds like his back is feeling better after a few days off. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback, Hardy could be back in the lineup this week.

J.J. Hardy sitting out again Tuesday

by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(4/8/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is not in the team's starting lineup Tuesday against the Yankees.

Hardy was able to play Sunday, but has missed a number of games now due to the injury. He'll be replaced by Ryan Flaherty at short. It's unclear if Hardy will need a stint on the disabled list due to his back issues.

J.J. Hardy not scheduled for tests on his back

Hardy's back locked up on him while fielding ground balls Sunday. He still played in Sunday's game, but was held out Monday. Hardy did not participate in any drills Monday, and said he wasn't sure whether he would play in Tuesday's game.

Despite that, the team will not send Hardy for additional tests. Manager Buck Showalter said his concern for Hardy, on a scale of 1 to 10 was a one. Hardy has hit .333 in four games.

J.J. Hardy out again Monday

Hardy's back has improved, but not enough for him to play Monday. Hardy said he's frustrated with the injury, adding he felt really healthy during spring training. It's unclear how long the injury will keep Hardy out of action.

J.J. Hardy out again due to back spasms

(4/6/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was a late scratch Sunday against the Tigers due to back spasms. However, Hardy said it was in a different spot than the back spasm that held him out Friday.

Hardy is batting .333 (5 for 15) with no extra-base hits or RBI through four games.

J.J. Hardy returns Saturday to lineup

by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(4/5/2014)A neck spasm that sidelined Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy on Friday will not do the same Saturday in Detroit. Hardy is in the starting lineup.

Hardy has three hits on the season, but none for extra bases.

J.J. Hardy expects to play Saturday

by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(4/4/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said he expects to play Saturday, according to MLB.com.

Hardy said he's dealing with a light spasm in his back. The injury was initially ruled a neck spasm. He'll miss Friday's game, but that's all. Hardy has three hits through three games.

J.J. Hardy dealing with neck spasms

by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(4/4/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is dealing with neck spasms, according to MLB.com.

Hardy is not in the lineup Friday, but it's seen as a precautionary move. He will be available as a pinch hitter Friday if needed. Manager Buck Showalter didn't want the injury to become something more serious.

J.J. Hardy sitting Friday

by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(4/4/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is not in the team’s lineup Friday.

Hardy will be replaced at short by Ryan Flaherty. It’s assumed to be a normal day off for Hardy. He’s collected three hits in 12 at-bats this year.

J.J. Hardy productive at the start of spring training

(3/9/2014)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy connected for a three-run homer off Edinson Volquez in the third inning during Baltimore's 9-2 win Sunday against the Pirates. It was his first spring home run.

Hardy has hit safely in four of his first five spring games. He's batting .400 (6 for 15) with one double and six RBI in that span.

Report: Orioles meet with J.J. Hardy's agents

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(2/24/2014)The Orioles met with representatives for shortstop J.J. Hardy last week about a contract extension, according to The Baltimore Sun. The Orioles have said they plan to talk about a contract extension this spring for Hardy, who is in the final season of a three-year contract.

Orioles to have contract talks with J.J. Hardy this spring

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(2/17/2014)Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette told MLB.com the team still has plans to talk with shortstop J.J. Hardy about a contract extension. Hardy is entering the final season of a three-year contract.

"We are going to work on that in the spring. We are not going to talk about it publicly, but it's on our spring agenda," Duquette said. "Our priority is on having a good team. And in J.J.'s case, he's done a very good job for the team. And we told him we would address it before the season starts."

Orioles considering J.J. Hardy extension

"J.J. has had a couple really good years for the team," executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said Wednesday, "and I think the interest is mutual between he and the Orioles and extending that relationship."

Hardy will be in the final year of a three-year, $22.5-million deal next season if an extension is not worked out during this offseason. He hit .263/.306/.433 with 25 home runs and 76 RBI in 601 at-bats last season, his third straight year with at least 22 home runs.

Cards nix Shelby Miller-for-J.J. Hardy proposal

by Al Melchior | Data Analyst

(11/13/2013)CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports that the Orioles and Cardinals had discussions around filling their respective needs for pitching and a shortstop, but the Cardinals did not want to part with Shelby Miller for American League Gold Glove winner J.J. Hardy .

Miller went 15-9 with a 3.06 ERA and was a candidate for the National League Rookie of the Year, while Hardy tied the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki with most home runs for a shortstop with 25.

Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, J.J. Hardy win Silver Sluggers

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(11/6/2013)Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy have joined Orioles first baseman Chris Davis as Silver Slugger award winners among American League infielders.

Cabrera's fifth Silver Slugger award comes after leading the majors in all three slash statistics, hitting .348/.442/.636 with 44 home runs and 137 RBI in 55 at-bats. Cano's fourth straight Silver Slugger award (and fifth career honor) comes after hitting .314/.383/.516 with 27 home runs and 107 RBI in 605 at-bats. Hardy's first career Silver Slugger award comes after hitting .263/.306/.433 with 25 home runs and 76 RBI in 601 at-bats.

J.J. Hardy is golden again at shortstop

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(10/29/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy won his second consecutive Gold Glove when the award was announced Tuesday, The Baltimore Sun reports. Hardy won his first Gold Glove last year.

Hardy is the fourth Baltimore shortstop in franchise history to win the award as he joined Mark Belanger, Luis Aparicio and Cal Ripken last year. All four players have won the Gold Glove multiple times.

American League Gold Glove finalists announced

by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer

(10/25/2013)The finalists for the 2013 Rawlings Gold Glove awards were announced on Friday, with three players at each position. The awards honor the league's best defenders, and winners will be announced Oct. 29.

J.J. Hardy belts go-ahead three-run homer

(9/1/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy hit a go-ahead opposite-field three-run homer Sunday afternoon in New York. Hardy brought the Orioles back from a 3-1 deficit as they won 7-3.

Hardy hit his 24th HR of the season as he finished 2 for 4 with the three-run jack. He's batting .256 on the season.

Hardy had gone 0 for 13 in his previous four games with two walks and four strikeouts.

J.J. Hardy goes deep among three hits

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(8/25/2013)Orioles starter J.J. Hardy recorded a double and a home run Sunday during a 10-3 win over Oakland. Hardy finished the game with three hits.

Hardy fell a triple shy of the cycle as he belted his 23rd home run for a solo shot in the sixth inning. He finished 3 for 4 with three runs scored and is batting .258 on the year.

The 31-year-old shortstop had gone 1 for 12 over his previous three games and hadn't driven in a run since Aug. 13 before Sunday.

J.J. Hardy returns with three base hits

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(8/19/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy overcame back spasms to return to action Monday in a loss to the Rays. Hardy had three hits in the defeat.

Batting sixth, Hardy went 3 for 5 with three singles and a run scored. He's batting .258 on the year. The shortstop has gone 7 for 18 over his last four games with three multi-hit contests.

J.J. Hardy back in Baltimore lineup

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(8/19/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy returned to the starting lineup Monday against Tampa Bay. Hardy was expected to return Monday after he missed the previous two games against Colorado due to nursing back spasms.

Hardy was hitting sixth in the Orioles lineup against Tampa Bay starter David Price. The infielder is having a solid August for the Orioles. He's gone 14 for 48 (.292) for the month with four homers and seven RBI over 12 games.

J.J. Hardy playing it safe with back

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(8/18/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said Sunday that his back spasms are 100 percent better, The Baltimore Sun reports. That said, Hardy did feel some tightness when he ran.

Hardy will take a second game off Sunday against the Rockies and look to return Monday against the Rays. Hardy just wants to play it safe.

The shortstop has gone 14 for 48 (.292) in August with four homers and seven RBI. He has 22 homers, 66 RBI and a .254 average overall this season for the Orioles.

J.J. Hardy scratched by Orioles

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(8/17/2013)The Orioles have scratched shortstop J.J. Hardy from the lineup Saturday against Colorado, the Denver Post reports. Baltimore switched Ryan Flaherty to shortstop and added Steve Pearce to the lineup at designated hitter.

The Orioles say Hardy is day to day and dealing with back spasms, MASNSports.com reports. The shortstop has gone 14 for 48 (.292) in August with four homers and seven RBI. He has 22 homers, 66 RBI and a .254 average overall this season for the Orioles.

J.J. Hardy admits to thinking about playing for Diamondbacks

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(8/14/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is an Arizona native and continues to make his offseason home in Arizona. Although he is signed with Baltimore through the 2014 season, Hardy -- who is in town with Baltimore for a three-game series -- admitted Tuesday he thinks about playing for the Diamondbacks, according to The Arizona Republic.

"It’s definitely crossed my mind," said Hardy, who won a Gold Glove last season. "I love Arizona. To play here, I don’t know what it would be like. I’d be leaving tickets a lot, I think. Usually, this three- or four-game series is exhausting for me because so many people want to come up. I’ve got to leave them tickets, entertain and all that stuff. Maybe if I was here for a full season, it wouldn’t be that hectic."

J.J. Hardy drives in three runs

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(8/7/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy belted his 19th home run of the season in the second inning of Wednesday's win at San Diego. Hardy's homer put the Orioles on the board, 1-0.

The shortstop added a two-run single to right field in the top of the ninth inning to pad the lead for Baltimore as he finished with three RBI on the game. He went 2 for 5 and is batting .254 on the year. It is the fifth time this season Hardy has recorded three RBI in a game.

The 30-year-old, who has 63 runs driven in on the season, has a five-game hitting streak working for the Orioles.

J.J. Hardy gets first day off

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(8/3/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy got his first day off of the season Saturday against the Mariners, The Baltimore Sun reports. Hardy, batting .252 on the year, is not injured but he did need a spell.

Hardy, who was hoping to play in all 162 games this season but will now shoot for 161, has gone 13 for 47 (.277) over his last 13 games with two homers and eight RBI.

MLB unveils American League All-Star roster

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(7/6/2013)The All-Star game starters were announced Saturday, with 34 of the American League's 35 roster spots officially unveiled. The final roster spot will be decided via a fan vote prior to the game.

J.J. Hardy battling shoulder issue

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(7/6/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was seen flexing his right shoulder in between pitches in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday against the Yankees. He gunned out Vernon Wells and was seen flexing and rubbing his shoulder, possibly dealing with some soreness or stiffness, MASNSports.com reports.

Hardy has gone 0 for 15 thus far in July with three strikeouts. He hasn't been on base during the month yet. He's batting .254 on the year with 15 homers and 46 RBI.

J.J. Hardy hits another HR off Justin Verlander

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(6/18/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy has owned Justin Verlander of the Tigers this season. Facing off against him Tuesday in Detroit, Hardy homered in the 5-2 win.

Hardy took Verlander deep in the fourth inning for a two-run blast, his 14th of the year. It was his third homer off Verlander this season in two games. He finished the game 3 for 4 and is batting .271.

Hardy has hit in four straight games and is 7 for 15 over that span with three RBI. He has 42 RBI on the year with 14 doubles and 28 runs scored.

J.J. Hardy red hot in June

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(6/9/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy hit third Sunday in Tampa Bay and drove in two runs on three hits.

Hardy, who leads the American League in All-Star voting, went 3 for 5 with two doubles. He had run-scoring doubles in the first and second.

Hardy has gone 15 for 29 (.517) over his eight June games, with four doubles, three homers and seven RBI. He's batting .270 on the season.

J.J. Hardy records season-high four hits

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(6/6/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy had a productive day at the plate in Thursday's 3-1 victory over the Astros.

Hardy doubled in the second, singled in a run in the fourth, singled in the six and reached on an infield single in the eighth. He finished with a season-high four hits, going 4 for 4 with an RBI. It was his fourth multi-hit game in his last five games played. He is hitting .579 with two doubles, three homers and five RBI over that span.

J.J. Hardy homers in defeat

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(6/6/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy hit his 13th home run Wednesday during a loss at Houston. He had a two-out solo shot in the seventh inning.

Hardy hit third Wednesday with Nick Markakis out of the lineup. He also had an RBI single in the first.

Hardy, batting .253, has hit in four straight games and is 7 for 15 over that span with three homers and four RBI. He has 36 RBI and is among the top 10 in the American League in homer ruuns.

J.J. Hardy homers twice

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(6/1/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy snapped out of a three-game hitless slide Saturday in a big way against the Tigers.

Hardy hit his 11th and 12th home runs of the season in the game, both solo shots. He finished the game going 2 for 3, with one walk, in a 10-3 loss.

Hardy is seventh in the American League in home runs, with four of his 12 shots coming over the last nine games.

J.J. Hardy hits 10th home run

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(5/29/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy had a great game at the plate Tuesday during a loss at Washington. Hardy hit his 10th home run among three hits.

Hardy hit a solo shot in the fourth inning. He added two singles as he went 3 for 4 to increase his batting average to .250 on the year.

He has hit in seven straight games and has gone 10 for 29 (.345) with five runs scored, two doubles, two homers and six RBI. He's up to 32 RBI and 22 runs scored on the year.

J.J. Hardy drives in two runs vs. Blue Jays

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(5/25/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy drove in two runs Saturday against the Blue Jays.

Hardy singled in two runs in the first inning and finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI in a 6-5 victory. He is hitting .313 (25 for 80) with six home runs and 16 RBI in his last 20 games played.

J.J. Hardy hits three-run homer in win

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(5/24/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy kicked off the scoring Friday against the Blue Jays, hitting a three-run home run in the top of the first inning of a 10-6 win. It was the ninth homer of the year and sixth of May for Hardy, who is hitting .234 this season.

J.J. Hardy homers again to extend streak

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(5/18/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy had another solid offensive game on Friday during a 12-10 loss to the Rays.

Hardy went 2 for 3 with his eighth home run of the season. He went deep in the second inning off Jeremy Hellickson for a solo shot. Hardy added a walk, scored twice and is batting .236 on the year.

Hardy, who was hitting .188 on May 2, is on a 12-game hitting streak in which he's gone 16 for 45 (.356) with five homers and nine RBI.

J.J. Hardy streaking into Padres series

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(5/14/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy enters Tuesday's series opener at home against the Padres having hit in nine straight games, MASNSports.com reports.

Hardy has gone 12 for 35 (.343) over that stretch with three home runs, seven RBI and five runs.

J.J. Hardy battling light tennis elbow

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(5/7/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy had to undergo an injection in his throwing arm while in Anaheim, the Baltimore Sun reports. Angels team doctor Dr. Lewis Yocum performed the injection.

Hardy is dealing with some light tennis elbow for a while now. It is not considered a big deal and he remained in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals.

In fact, Hardy's bat has begun to come alive over his last three games. He's 5 for 12 (.417) over that span with two homers and three RBI. Hardy has five home runs and 18 RBI on the year over 124 at-bats.

J.J. Hardy hits fourth home run

by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com

(5/4/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy hit his first home run since April 20 on Saturday against the Angels. He took starter Tommy Hanson deep for a solo shot in his first at-bat for his fourth long ball.

The 30-year-old added a single to finish 2 for 5 in a 5-4 win.

Hardy is batting .234 (11 for 47) in his last 11 games with four RBI and four runs scored.

J.J. Hardy starting to collect multi-hit games

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(5/1/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy collected two hits Tuesday against Seattle, finishing April with just two multi-hit games. Both of them have come in the last five games.

Hardy is hitting better heading into May. After batting .178 through 20 games, Hardy is batting .258 (8 for 31) with three RBI in his last seven games. He's raised his average to .202 heading into May.

J.J. Hardy approaching .200 mark

by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com

(4/27/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy had at least one hit for the fourth-straight game Saturday against the A's. He went 1 for 4 with an RBI in the 7-3 win.

The 30-year-old singled home Chris Davis in the fourth inning for his 14th RBI. Hardy has seen his average rise from .178 to .198 during his four-game hitting streak.

J.J. Hardy tacks on three RBI

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(4/20/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy only had one hit but had a nice game in the first game of a doubleheader with the Dodgers Saturday.

Hardy hit his third home run of the season in the second inning, a two-run shot. He added a sacrifice fly RBI to drive in three. He went 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored. Hardy is batting .203.

Despite his low batting average, Hardy has 10 RBI after 17 games, though he's also struck out 12 times as teams consistently pitch him away.

J.J. Hardy admits shoulder is getting better

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4/10/2013)Although Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy admits the muscle imbalance in his shoulder he's dealt with for years hasn't gone away, he said a new stretching regimen has him feeling more comfortable with the injury in 2013, according to The Baltimore Sun.

"I've gotten better," Hardy said. "Now that we know what caused it all, we've been able to work at it. It's gotten better slowly. It's definitely not all better, but it's better than it was at any point last year, so I'm pretty happy with that."

Hardy won his first Gold Glove in 2012 despite discomfort when he threw the ball. But perhaps the most notable slump in production was at the plate, which Hardy refuses to put the entire blame on his injury.

"That was my longest stretch of really struggling that I think I've ever had in my career," Hardy said. "It wasn't fun by any means. Was it my lowest point offensively? Yeah, probably."

Hardy is batting .214 (6 for 28) through seven games this season, but he is slugging .536 with two homers, three doubles and five RBI.

J.J. Hardy showing early power

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4/8/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy connected for his third double of the season Monday at Boston. Hardy managed his only hit in four at-bats off Boston closer Joel Hanrahan in the ninth inning.

Hardy, who struck out twice Monday, has hit safely in five straight games and six of seven. Hardy, who doesn't have a multi-hit game, is batting .214 (6 for 30) with two homers and five RBI.

J.J. Hardy homers in win

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4/4/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy hit his first home run of the season in the team's 6-3 win over the Rays Thursday. The two-run shot was the only hit of the game in four at-bats for Hardy, who's now 2 for 13 to open the season.

Hardy hit just .200/.268/.460 this spring and will look to shake off his slow start this weekend against the Twins, against whom he has a .284/.336/.471 line and five home runs in 102 career at-bats.

Lumber warming for J.J. Hardy

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(3/25/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy, who has struggled with the bat for much of spring, had a nice offensive performance on Monday in a Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

Hardy, batting sixth for the Orioles, hit his third home run of the spring as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI. He scored twice and is now batting .179 on the spring. That said, Hardy has gone 6-for-18 (.333) with three homers, three doubles and eight RBI over his last five contests.

J.J. Hardy finally takes one deep

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(3/17/2013)Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy homered for the first time all spring on Sunday in a Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

Hardy, who now has just two hits on the spring and was batting .087 after the homer, took starter Vance Worley deep in the fourth inning for a solo shot.

He's been struggling this spring, but Hardy homered 22 times last year and hit 30 homers the year prior. He did hit just .238 last season, however, and the Orioles would like to see him raise that average.

O's to move Hardy in lineup?

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(2/20/2013)Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter puts it bluntly. He wants to move J.J. Hardy out of the second spot in the lineup. The Orioles shortstop is coming off his best year defensively -- and a year he'd like to forget offensively. In 2012, Hardy batted .238 with 22 home runs and 68 RBI. I look at it as one of the worst offensive seasons Ive had, Hardy said. He doesn't draw many walks, and Showalter feels he'd be more effective lower in the batting order. Hardy's position in the batting order may depend on Brian Roberts' health. If the second baseman can regain his form, Roberts could bat leadoff and Nick Markakis second. If Roberts can't play, the Orioles may have to bat Hardy second -- unless Showalter decides second-year third baseman Manny Machado is comfortable enough batting second.